Parents, advocates urge Katy ISD to act after federal injunction and over transgender student policies

Multiple parents, staff and advocates addressed the Katy ISD Board during public comment on Feb. 23, urging immediate action after a federal court issued a preliminary injunction affecting parts of SB 12 and criticizing district policies that limit use of preferred names and pronouns.

Jesus Nieto, a community advocate and candidate for a trustee seat, told the board the court's order enjoins the district from implementing sections 3, 7, 24 and 27 of SB 12 and urged trustees to direct board counsel to identify which local policies and administrative regulations must change to comply immediately. "This is a moment for accountability, not distance," Nieto said, and asked the board to use closed session to get legal clarity and return to open session ready to act.

Several parents described personal harm. Amelia Smith said her 13‑year‑old transgender daughter was forced out of the district after the board adopted a policy restricting preferred names and pronouns; Smith asked trustees to rescind policies she described as demoralizing and harmful. A second speaker, Kenneth Smith, criticized the district's defense in court and urged stronger leadership to protect students.

Trustees acknowledged the injunction and debated how to proceed. In closed session the board instructed administration to review a Level 2 response to a related grievance in light of recent court rulings; in open session trustees voted to take no action on the Level 3 grievance but directed administration to reassess the Level 2 response, a motion that passed 7–0.

Board members and administration repeatedly cautioned that the district cannot track or categorize students by immigration status and that legal obligations and limited local authority shape the board's options. At least one trustee urged quantifying fiscal impacts of demographic and policy shifts for future legislative advocacy; administrators said some details cannot be tracked because student immigration status is not recorded and education is provided regardless of status.

The board did not adopt immediate policy changes on the record at the Feb. 23 meeting. Trustees instead directed staff to obtain legal guidance and return with recommended actions for open session consideration.